Handheld wire twisting tool

ABSTRACT

A handheld wire twisting tool for making a wire conductor twisted splice connection. The tool includes a winding disk having a plurality of wire insertion apertures therethrough in an annular array for respective insertion therethrough of the stripped ends of wires to be twisted together. A finger engagement handle extends from the winding disk in substantially the same plane as the winding disk and extends also substantially radially from the annular array of apertures for manipulating the disk with the handle by one&#39;s finger for wire winding by rotating the winding disk about the axis of the annular array of apertures. A wire depth stop disk is also provided in spaced relationship from and secured in parallel to the winding disk and overlies the annular array of the apertures whereby wire ends inserted through the apertures will engage in the inside surface of the depth stop disk to meter the proper depth of penetration for winding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wire splicers, and more particularly to a handheld wire twisting tool for splicing a plurality of electrical conductor wires together by twisting them together prior to installing an insulating cap to the end of the twisted wires.

The installation of electrical power wiring frequently requires the use of a method of joining wires whereby two or more wires are cut to length, the insulation is removed from an end portion of each and the bared conductors are twisted together. The twisted conductors are thereby held together and they may be electrically insulated from other objects by using a plastic twist cap having internal threads which is screwed on to the twisted conductors.

When an electrician is wiring a home or a commercial building this twisting operation must be performed a considerable number of times per day as the electrician moves from one outlet to the next to complete the wiring installation of outlets, switches and the like. Typically this is accomplished by using lineman pliers to twist the wires together around one another to form the splice. Alternatively, instruments have been provided such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,181,297 and 4,074,732, and US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0053558 and 2008/0083473. However, even with these latter referenced tools, the same wrist motion is used as with the lineman pliers to perform the twisted splice connection. It is basically the same twisting motion that is used to operate a screwdriver to tighten a screw. Repeated use of this wrist action over long periods of time easily tires one's wrist and can lead to wrist injury, including the possible development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an effective hand tool for splicing such conductor ends by twisting without requiring the normal wrist movements required to operate the aforementioned wire splicing tools of the prior art. The splicing tool of the present invention is designed to make the splicing job easier, faster and to relieve the stress on the wrist from the twisting of wires with a pair of lineman pliers or similar tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The handheld wire twisting tool of the present invention is comprised of a winding disk which has a plurality of apertures therethrough which are arranged in an annular array for respective insertion therethrough of the stripped ends of wires to be twisted together. The apertures are generally large enough to receive number 12 and number 14 gauge wires. Generally eight apertures are provided so that eight such wires may be twisted at once to form the splice. A handle means extends from the winding disk in substantially the same plane as the winding disk and extends substantially radially from the annular array of apertures for turning engagement by the operator's finger. This handle means is provided for manipulating the disk for wire winding by rotating the winding disk about the axis of the annular array of apertures with one's finger, similar to dialing a rotary telephone. This twisting motion is provided by one's finger in a manner entirely different from the wrist movement required with lineman pliers. The operator may simply insert a finger against the handle and thereby rotates the disk with finger movement which alleviates one's wrist of the required wrist movement of the prior art splicing tools.

In addition, the wire twisting tool of the present invention may further include a wire depth stop disk that is spaced from and secured in parallel to the winding disk, and overlies the annular array of apertures whereby the wire ends inserted through the apertures may engage the inside surface of the depth stop disk. This built in stop lets just enough wire into the tool for a uniform and proper twist without wasting wire. Once the twisted splice is completed and the tool is removed, the exposed untwisted ends of the conductors are merely cut off.

The wire insertion apertures may be sequentially numbered in a desired wire insertion pattern so that the tool operator is guided to insert the wires in the best annular arrangement for thereby providing a uniformly twisted splice.

The handle means extends radially from the winding disk or radially from the annular array of apertures in the winding disk, and may be comprised of a radial extension of the winding disk itself. In addition, the handle means is further preferably provided with a finger insertion aperture therethrough so that the operator may insert a finger therein and thereby apply a twisting motion to the winding disk.

In addition to the afore-described tool, a separate wire retaining comb may also be provided for engaging and retaining wires to be twisted together with the operator's opposite hand at a spaced relationship from the winding disk. While this implement is not absolutely required, it does greatly assist by providing a stationary grip of the insulated wires to be twisted.

While the wire twisting tool of the present invention is normally designed to splice up to eight number 12 or number 14 gauge wires at once, it of course can be dimensioned to splice wires of a different gauge together. Also, the wire apertures may be frustoconical so that it is easier to initially insert the wire ends through the apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the following description and claims. The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplification, without limiting the scope of the invention or the appended claims, certain practical embodiments of the present invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of one embodiment of the handheld wire twisting tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of a separate wire retaining comb for engaging and anchoring or retaining wires to be twisted together to be used in combination with the tool shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in right side elevation of the comb shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in right side elevation of the tools shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrating the tools in operation for making a wire twist splice; and

FIG. 7 is a view in front elevation of a second embodiment of the handheld wire twisting tool of the present invention illustrating a variation in the handle means used for manipulating the tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 6, the handheld wire twisting tool 10 of the present invention includes a winding disk 11 having a plurality of wire insertion apertures 12 therethrough in an annular array for respective insertion therethrough of the stripped ends 13 of wires to be twisted together as illustrated in FIG. 6. A handle 14 extends from the winding disk 11 in substantially the same plane as the winding disk 11 and further extends substantially radially from the annular array of apertures 12 for manipulating the winding disk 11 with the handle 14 by rotating the winding disk 11 about the axis 15 of the annular array of apertures 12 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction (preferably clockwise) with one's finger. Handle 14 is provided with a finger aperture 16 therethrough for insertion of a finger of the operator to apply the rotating twisting movement to winding disk 11. In order to make the finger engagement with handle 14 more comfortable, the handle 14 may be coated with a conventional plastic coating dip or be equipped with an annular finger engagement bearing.

The tool 10 is further provided with a wire depth stop disk 17 which is spaced from and secured in parallel to winding disk 11 and overlies the annular array of apertures 12 whereby wire ends inserted through the apertures may engage inside surface 18 of depth stop disk 17 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the apertures in annular array 12 are sequentially numbered 1 through 8 to indicate the desired wire insertion pattern or sequence in order to provide a more uniform twist splice 19 as indicated in FIG. 6.

Referring next to FIG. 4, a separate wire retaining comb 20 is shown and includes comb teeth 21 with intermediate comb slots 22 for engaging and retaining wires 23 to be twisted together at a spaced relationship from the winding disk 11. The use of wire retaining comb 20 is not required but in certain situations assists the operator in maintaining the wires 23 to be twisted substantially stationary in a uniform easy manner while the operator's opposite hand applies twisting to the wire ends 13 with the opposite hand by rotating the disk 11 with finger engagement handle 14 in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction (preferably clockwise) about the axis 15.

Referring next to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the wire twisting tool 10 of the present invention is illustrated wherein the handle 14 extends not just in one direction radially from disk 11, but in fact extends a full 360°, similar to a valve handle. Accordingly, the operator may apply the twisting movement to disk 11 by inserting a finger in one of the finger apertures 16 and use that finger to rotate the winding disk 11 either clockwise or counterclockwise to form the twisted splice 19. In addition, the apertures 12 in the array in this embodiment are frustoconical. This permits easier and guided insertion of the wire ends 13 therethrough.

In FIG. 6, four number 12 or number 14 gauge wires are illustrated as being twisted together. However, these wires 23 may be of other gauges and the apertures 12 in the aperture array may be so sized for other wire gauges. 

1. A handheld wire twisting tool comprising: a winding disk having a plurality of apertures therethrough in an annular array for respective insertion therethrough of the stripped ends of wires to be twisted together, and finger engagement handle means extending from said winding disk in substantially the same plane as said winding disk and substantially radially from said annular array and dimensioned and contoured for finger engagement for manipulating said winding disk with said handle means for wire winding by rotating said winding disk about an axis of said annular array by finger manipulation of an operator.
 2. The wire twisting tool of claim 1, including a wire depth stop disk spaced from and secured in parallel to said winding disk and overlaying said annular array of said apertures whereby wire ends inserted through said apertures may engage an inside surface of said depth stop disk.
 3. The wire twisting tool of claim 1, wherein said apertures are sequentially numbered in a desired wire insertion pattern.
 4. The wire twisting tool of claim 1, including a separate wire retaining comb for engaging and retaining wires to be twisted together at a spaced relationship form said winding disk.
 5. The wire twisting tool of claim 1, wherein said handle means is comprised of radial extensions of said winding disk.
 6. The wire twisting tool of claim 5, said handle means including at least one finger insertion aperture therethrough. 